January, 2019

WINNIPEG – A city council committee has approved a proposal that parking fines be doubled in snow zones during snow-clearing operations.

The Infrastructure and Public Works Committee on Tuesday accepted four changes to Winnipeg’s snow clearing policy, including fines of $300 ($150 with early payment) for illegal parking and reprioritizing sidewalk snow removal.

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“Unfortunately, people need to feel it in the pocketbook if they leave their vehicles on the street,” said Brad Sacher, the director of public works. “We feel fines would make a difference.”

There are 5,000 tickets handed out every time Winnipeg does a major snow-clearing operation, Sacher said, and the numbers are going up, not down.

“We’re not getting the compliance we thought we would.”

St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal was the only councillor to vote against the fine increases. He said he wants the city to better inform the public about snow-clearing operations.

“Communication is not getting out there like we want it,” he said.

The proposals do include suggestions for improving communication about when neighbourhoods will be cleared.

The recommendations will now go to the city’s Executive Policy Committee, and if they pass that hurdle, city council will vote on whether to make them law.

The changes include adjusting snow zones so streets can be plowed on schedule, specifically referring to streets in Osborne Village that haven’t been cleared regularly.

There’s also a provision for punitive measures against contractors who dump snow on sidewalks or private property.

The proposals come with a $672,000 increase to the 2014 snow clearing budget and another $1.66 million in the 2015-17 budgets.

TORONTO – Apple unveiled a slew of new products in Cupertino, California Tuesday, including two new versions of its flagship smartphone and its first foray into wearable tech.

Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced the iPhone 6, 6 Plus and the Apple Watch during a nearly two-hour long special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts, the same venue where Apple founder Steve Jobs unveiled the game-changing Mac computer 25 years ago.

WATCH: Apple CEO Tim Cook announced not one, but two new iPhone models – both of which have larger screens.

Though the new iPhone lineup was touted as the “biggest advancement in the history of the iPhone,” the majority of the excitement surrounding the event was focused on the long-rumoured Apple Watch.

LISTEN: Apple unveils its next generation products

Here is a look at what the technology giant has in store for its users:

“It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made,” said Cook of the company’s first smartwatch.

Apple announces its smartwatch. Rectangular watch with a touch wheel much like the iPod wheel, zooms out and in. 杭州桑拿按摩论坛t.co/d3trczslHG— Nicole Bogart (@nlynnbogart) September 09, 2014

The device works as a companion to the iPhone to send messages, check notifications, interact with other Apple Watch users and use Apple Maps.

Apple’s product designers repurposed the traditional watch dial to be a “Digital Crown” that allows users to scroll, zoom and navigate the screen. The watch can also sense when the user is raising their wrist to automatically illuminate the screen.

Apple Watch will be available in three different collections – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition – and will come in two different sizes, 42 mm and 38 mm for those with smaller wrists. There is even an 18-karat rose or yellow gold version.

Apple Watch will also feature its own messaging system that will allow users to send each other “touches” in the form of a vibration, drawings and even share each other’s heartbeat, which is read directly from the user’s wrist.

Apple has not yet announced an official release date for the watch, but said it will go on sale in “early 2015,” starting at US$349.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Cook began the event by unveiling what he called the “biggest advancement in the history of iPhone,” the much-anticipated iPhone 6. The phone is available in two sizes: the iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch screen and the larger version, the iPhone 6 Plus, with a 5.5-inch screen.

The iPhone 6 also features new Retina HD display screens. The models are the thinnest ever in the iPhone series at 6.9 mm and 7.1 mm.

Here’s a look at the phones comparatively. pic.twitter杭州夜网/AAxUL54OCA

— Nicole Bogart (@nlynnbogart) September 9, 2014

The devices will also have longer battery lives – the 6 will get up to 50 hours of audio playback, while the 6 Plus will get up to 80.

Both phones have upgraded 8MP iSight Cameras with 1.5 micron pixels. The iPhone 6 camera will include a new feature dubbed “Focus Pixels” that allow the camera to focus twice as fast.

WATCH: Apple’s Phil Schiller provides a look at some of the new and exciting features of the iPhone 6.

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For Canadian consumers, the iPhone 6 will start at $759 for the 16GB model and $859 for the 64GB model without a contract. For the first time, Apple will not offer a 32GB iPhone; however, a new 128GB model will be available for $969 outright.

The iPhone 6 Plus will run you $859 for the 16GB model, $969 for the 64GB model and $1079 for the 128GB model. Both phones will be available in space grey, silver and gold.

The new phones will go on sale in Canada Sept. 19.

Mobile payments

Apple also unveiled its new mobile payment process called Apple Pay. The new system will be built into every iPhone 6 and 6 Plus using Near Field Communication (NFC). Security for the new payment system features Touch ID and a new chip called ‘secure element.’

Apple Pay is built into every iPhone 6, 6+ using NFC. Also uses Touch ID and new chip called secure element. 杭州桑拿按摩论坛t.co/4tU4Nnedof— Nicole Bogart (@nlynnbogart) September 09, 2014

Users can store their credit card numbers in Apple’s Passbook App; however, the company was quick to note that card numbers are encrypted and card numbers are never stored on the device. Apple was also careful in explaining that Apple never stores, or has access to payment information – the transaction information stays between the user, the merchant and the bank.

WATCH: Apple Pay is a new mobile payment platform built into every iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

If the phone is lost or stolen, users are able to protect themselves by using the “Find My iPhone” app to suspend all mobile payments.

Apple has already teamed up with a number of U.S. retailers, including Macy’s, Walgreens, Whole Foods and the Disney Store, to introduce Apple Pay. Online retailers including Uber and the MLB have also signed on.

However, its unclear when Canadians will get to use Apple Pay. The company has not yet done any work on the system outside of the U.S.

iOS 8

Where there’s a new iPhone, there’s a new operating system. Apple users already got a sneak peek at the latest mobile operating system, iOS 8, at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

iOS 8 is the first major software change since Apple released the totally redesigned iOS 7. The new software will sport interactive notifications, so you can respond to a message without having to leave another app. It will have new gestures, such as double tapping to see a list of frequent contacts.

iOS 8 will also feature new additions that have long been associated with the Android platform. For example, the new “quick type” feature promises predictive typing suggestions. Some pointed out that Android has also supported similar notification features before Apple.

One small feature that many users seemed to be excited about was the option to remove yourself from group messages.

The new operating system will be available for download Sept. 17.

Live stream difficulties

Apple’s event wasn’t without it’s missteps, however.

The live stream of the keynote, which was available only on certain Apple platforms, experienced a number of technical blunders throughout the two-hour event. In fact, many viewers missed the majority of the iPhone segment because the stream would only show a special event slate listing technical information.

Apple fans and tech reporters took to 桑拿会所 to complain about the troubles.

Big box renovation chains like Rona, Home Hardware and Home Depot appear poised to be direct beneficiaries of the next boom in Canada’s housing market – renos.

CMHC, the country’s government-backed home loan insurer, said Tuesday that the pace of home construction cooled in August, with most experts suggesting they expect a further deceleration ahead.

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Why? Because while “the housing party continues for now, it can’t last forever,” Brian DePratto at TD Economics said.

That’s something we’ve been hearing for some time now.

But experts say there isn’t much more leverage left in the tank for borrowers to absorb, and a new report from CIBC this week suggests many buyers over the last few years will be hard-pressed to move on from starter homes they’ve already paid a lot for.

That’s because the so-called “move up” dream homes many first-time buyers look to purchase later on, mostly in the single-detached category, have been rising in price through Canada’s current boom at a much quicker rate than other housing segments like condos, townhouses, semis or even smaller single-detached houses.

CIBC points to Toronto’s heated market as a main example, but says the price inflation story is “ditto for other cities such as Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton where the move up category has risen notably faster” than lower priced starter homes.

So instead of moving up into those larger four-bed, three-bath bungalows, many have started to add extensions and redo their current homes, according to CIBC.

“With limited move up options, it’s no surprise then that many Canadians choose to renovate their existing homes,” CIBC’s Benjamin Tal said.

He notes that since 2009, reno projects as a slice of the overall residential investment pie in Canada (the all-in amount of cash – or debt — businesses and individuals spend on homes and real estate) has risen to 46 per cent, annually – or nearly half of all spending in the sector each year.